Circular  N 


United  States  Department  of  Agriculture, 


HUKKAU   OF    KNTOMOLOC'.Y 
HOWARD.  Cntumcdu^Kt  «nJ  Chief  of  Mure 


< \«TAU'\    SPHINX. 
atalpti    Eidv.  i 

Bj   !..(».  i  [o«  \Kn  nnil  I '    1 1.  Chittenden 


[NTROD1  i   n  iri  . 

Our  native  species  of  catalpa,  the  eastern  catalpa  (Catalpa  big- 
nonioides)  and  the  hardy  or  western  species  {Catalpa  speoioaa),  are 
comparatively  free  from  insect  attack.  Such  common  shade-tree 
defoliators  as  the  bagworm  and  fall  webworm  occasionally  feed 
upon  the  leaves,  l>ut  apparent  ly  do  so  only  in  the  absence  of  food  more 
palatable  to  them.  There  is  one  insect,  however,  the  catalpa  sphinx 
ttomia  catalpa  Bdv.°),  which  lives  normally  and  exclusively  on 
the  foliage  of  this  tree  and  in  some  seasons  doc--  .cry  considerable 
injury,  frequently  causing  complete  defoliation.  There  is  evidence 
that  this  species,  owing  doubtless  to  the  increased  planting  of  these 
trees  in  regions  other  than  their  native  home-,  has  also  increased  its 
natural  range,  and  injury  is  more  extensive  now  than  formerly. 
During  the  year  1906  injury  was  noticed  in  Ohio.  New  Jersey,  and 
Pennsylvania,  but  in  1907  reports  of  damage  which  reached  this  office 
indicated  general  infestation  over  a  much  larger  area.  This  included 
portion- of  Maryland,  Virginia,  the  District  of  Columbia,  Ohio,  New 
Jersey,  Indiana,  and  Florida.  Mr.  A.  S.  Peck,  of  the  Foresi  Service, 
also  reports  injury  in  duly.  1907,  at  Warsaw,  Ky.  It  is  probable 
that  the  insect  also  infested  the  intervening  territory  not  yel  reported 
to  this  Bureau. 

M-i   KM'  I  I  \  1  . 

The  catalpa  sphinx  in  it-  active  feeding  stage  is  a  large  caterpillar, 
attaining  a  length  of  fully  :'>  inches.     It   i-  very  variable  in  color. 

there  being  a   light   and  a  dark   form,  a-  in  the  case  ^\'  some  related 
species.     The  prevailing  color-  are  yellow  and  black,  and  this,  com- 


-     mnynis  are  s/iliiii.i   COtalpa  and  liiinniinii  cotulptt. 
1752S    Clr.  96—07. 


IhikmI  with  the  large  size  of  the  insect,  makes  it  a  conspicuous  object 
on  infested  trees.  The  complete  life  history  by  stages  or  periods  of 
growth  is  well  illustrated  by  the  accompanying  figure"  on  page  •">. 
the  drawing  for  which  was  made  by  the  late  Dr.  George  Marx,  of 
whose  excellent  and  artistic  work  it  is  one  of  the  best  published 
example-. 

The  parent  of  this  caterpillar  is  a  large  grayish-brown  moth  of 
the  family  Sphingidee,  marked  a-  shown  in  figure  1.  /-.  It  has  a  large 
heavy  body  and  powerful  wings  with  a  total  expanse  of  3  inches. 
It  deposits  its  eggs  in  masses,  and  in  this  respect  di tiers  from  other 
sphingids.  An  egg  mass  i-  shown  in  the  illustration  at  a  and  an  in- 
dividual egg  at  /.  The  young  caterpillar-  are  paler  than  the  mature 
ones,  being  pale  yellow  and  having  a  stout  black  anal  horn.  Two 
striking  variations  of  the  larva  in  the  later  stage-  are  shown  at  /  and 
<\  while  //  represents  the  commonest  dark  form  of  caterpillar. 

ORIGINAL    HOME   AND    PRESENT   DISTRIBUTION. 

This  insect  i-  a  strictly  North  American  species,  and  its  range  is 
given  by  Dr.  J.  B.  Smith6  as  from  "  Virginia  to  Florida:  westward 
to  the  Mississippi;  as  far  north  as  Indiana."  It  i-  an  especially 
common  form  in  Virginia.  Maryland,  and  Ohio,  and  of  late  year-  has 
extended  its  range  northward  on  the  Atlantic  coast,  since  it  ha-  been 
received  at  this  office  from  several  localities  in  southeastern  Pennsyl- 
vania  and  Xew  Jersey. 

In  1888  it  was  recorded  from  Delaware  County.  Pa.,  and  Mr.  Frank 
M.  Jones''  states  that  he  received  it  in  1893  from  Sussex  County,  Del., 
while  in  1894  a  specimen  was  taken  at  electric  light  at  Wilmington. 
Del.  In  1898  the  larvae  appeared  on  the  catalpa  tree-  at  Wilmington 
in  great  numbers.  The  species  has  spread  northward  in  Delaware, 
and  it  has  greatly  increased  in  numbers  where  it  was  formerly  very 
rare.  Its  northward  range  seems  so  far  to  be  limited  by  Illinois  in 
the  West,  in  which  State  Professor  Forbes  recorded  it  in  1SS4.''  The 
range  of  its  food  plant  is  as  follows:  From  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  in 
western  Florida  and  on  the  rivers  in  Alabama  and  Georgia  westward 
and  northward  along  the  Mississippi  and  its  southern  tributaries  in 
the  great  delta  formation  to  above  the  mouth  of  the  Ohio:  thence  up 
the  Wabash  and  White  rivers  of  Indiana  to  near  Vincennes/  This 
has  been  taken  by  Riley  to  indicate  also  the  range  of  the  catalpa 
sphinx.     Published  records,  however,  were  lacking  until  recently  to 

«  Originally  published  as  Plate  XIII.  Report  of  U.  S.  Dept.  Agr.  for  1881    82 
t>  Monograph  of  the  Sphingidse  of  America  North  of  Mexico,  p.  -ic>,  1888. 
c Entomological  News.  November,  1898,  p.  262;  Feb.,  1899,  p.  4::. 
d  Trans.  111.  State  Ilort.  Soc,  1884,  p.   125. 

•  For  particulars  regarding  the  present  range,  see  Circ.  82,  Forest  Service. 
[Clr.  9G] 


talpa  Sphlns  [Ceratomia  catalptt)  newly  hatched  lame; 

C  larva  one-tbtrd  ;r"»  n  :  '/.dorsal  view   ol   |olnl  ol  •  ;  e,  /.  two  differently  marked,  nearly 
full  grown  Ian  sal  vlen  of  joint  ol  f:  h.  fall-grown  dart  larva  ;  i, dorsal  < 

Joint  of  same;  /,  pupa;  *.  moth;  /.  egg.  enlarged.    All  natural  Bl«e,  except      (Man  del.). 

WW.  96] 


show  its  genera]  occurrence  west  of  Florida  and  Georgia  along  the 
Gulf.  From  the  files  of  the  Bureau  of  Entomology  we  learn  that 
this  species  was  observed  in  Alabama  in  1883,  and  was  received  from 
Denison,  Tex.,  in  1889.     More  recently  the  specie-  has  been  reported 

from  Arkansas  (by  Webster,  in  1900)  and  from  Cedar  Creek,  Ala. 
(in  1904),  following  which  it  occurred  at  St.   Elmo,  Ala.      In   1899 

the  species  was  not  known  to  occur  in  New  Jersey,  hut  in  11)00  it  was 
observed  in  Camden  County,  near  Philadelphia,  and  in  Hunterdon 
County."  By  1906  it  had  become  established  at  Elberon  and  Bloom- 
field,  the  latter — westward  and  a  little  north  of  Manhattan.  New  York- 
City — being  the  northernmost  point  of  which  we  have  knowledge  of 
its  occurrence  in  the  East. 

LIFE    HISTORY    AND    HABITS. 

The  catalpa  sphinx  is  subject  to  considerable  fluctuations  in  num- 
bers. For  one  or  two  years  or  even  several  years  it  will  not  !>;■ 
noticed  in  a  given  locality  and  will  then  suddenly  appear  in  greal 
masses,  completely  defoliating  the  trees  and  covering  the  ground 
beneath  them  with  its  larval  excrement.  It  is  interesting  to  observe 
that  John  Abbot,  who  collected  the  type  specimens  in  Georgia,  men- 
tioned more  than  a  hundred  years  ago  the  fact  that  the  fishermen 
who  inhabited  the  borders  of  the  swamps  hunted  for  these  larva- 
as  the  best  bait  for  catching  fish,  and  it  is  said  that  this  bait  is  so 
esteemed  for  this  purpose  in  some  parts  of  Florida  that  the  catalpa 
is  often  cultivated  for  no  other  purpose  than  to  attract  the  insect. 

The  eggs,  as  has  been  stated,  are  laid  in  masses,  and  the  young 
larvae  feed  gregariously  for  some  time.  The  prolificacy  of  the  species 
may  be  judged  from  the  fact  that  an  egg  mass  in  the  collection  of  the 
U.  S.  National  Museum  contains  nearly  1,000  eggs.  The  mass  -is  not 
compact  and  is  slightly  fastened  to  the  underside  of  the  leaves.  Some- 
times, according  to  Koebele.  the  eggs  are  laid  in  smaller  masses  on 
the  stems  and  branches.  The  larva1  molt  four  times,  becoming  as 
they  grow  older  very  variable  in  their  markings.  In  the  extreme 
South  the  insect  is  reported  to  be  found  in  all  stages  during  the  sum- 
mer, and  there  are  three  or  four  generations  annually,  the  last  hiber- 
nating in  the  pupa  state  beneath  the  ground  and  giving  forth  the 
moth  the  following  March.  In  the  summer  time,  according  to  Koe- 
bele, whose  observations  were  made  in  Florida,  the  time  occupied  by 
an  entire  generation  is  about  six  weeks.  In  the  vicinity  of  Washing- 
ton, at  Coalburg,  W.  Va..  and  probably  everywhere  in  its  northern 
range,  there  are  two  generations,  or  broods,  annually. 

o Entomological  News.  November,  1900,  pp.  608,  nil. 
[Clr.  9G] 


\  \  I  I    I.  \l.     I    \  I    M  II  -. 


V— 4i 


A  Dumber  of  parasitic  insects  attach  and  kill  the  catalpa  sphinx. 
A  pan  tele*  nrngregatus  Say,  a  common,  widespread,  and   \er\    gen 
eralrj    parasitic  runny  of  -phin\   caterpillars,  attacks  Hii-  specie* 
quite  as  freelj  a-  ii  does  the  "  lion;  worms'1  of  tobacco  and  tomato. 
Unfortunately   this  parasite  is  in  turn  parasitized  l>\   other  Hyme 
noptera,  of  which  i  wo  species,  M '■  <■•■  hot  us  aprilinus  A -Inn.  ami  IJemi 
teles  mesochoridis  Rilej    MS.,  are  recorded.    These  secondary  para 
>ite-  in  our  experience,  however,  are  nol  generally   abundant;  hence 
the  beneficial  primary  parasite  flourishes  in  spite  of  their  attack. 
Avanti  I  s  i  ongrt  gains,  the  primary  parasite,  i   a  minute,  four-winged, 
wasplike    fly.     It-    larva,    a    white,    maggotlike   creature,  develops 
within  ilif  body  of  the  caterpillar,  and  when  full  fed  and  ready  for 
transformation    each    indi 
vidua!  eats  a  hole  through 
the  skin  of  the  caterpillar 
ami    spins    its    little    white 
cocoon  on  the  outside.     Two 
hundred    or   more   of   such 
cocoon-  may  be  -ecu  on  the 
body  of  a  single  caterpillai . 
After     a      few     day-     the 
w  inged  parasite  issues  from 
the  cocoon-  to  lay  eggs  and 
produce  another  generation 
of  larva'.     This  parasite  is 
abundant     throughout     the 
eastern  United  State-. 

Microplitis  i .  1  /ni/i/i  /<  s  i 
catalpa  Riley,  which  ap- 
pears to  l>e  a  special  parasite  of  the  genus  ( !eratomia,  is  also  recorded 
a-  an  enenn  of  die  species  under  discussion.  Extensive  parasitism  of 
the  catalpa  sphinx  by  this  species  was  observed  by  Mr.  A.  !•'.  Burgea 
at  .lack-on.  Ohio,  in  1905.  In  one  case  a  large  number  of  the  hyper- 
parasite  Uypopteromalus  tabacum  Fitch  and  a  few  individuals  of 
Horismenus  (llolcopelte)  microgastri  A-hm.  were  reared  from  the 
same  lot  of  larvse,  the  hyperparasites  outnumbering  the  primary 

parasites  four  to  one.      This,  however,  i-  exceptional. 

Two  common  species  of  tachina  flies,  Euphorocera  claripennis 
Macq.  (fig.  2)  and  Frontina  frenchii  Will.,  also  attack  the  larva  of 
the  catalpa  -phinv  These  are  general  parasites  of  Lepidoptera,  the 
former  infesting  27  distinct  species,  the  latter  22. 

I  fir.  06] 


Fie.  2 


/;»;./■  Ite  of  iii<> 

catalpa   spblm       Adull   with   puparltim  at    right 
: s  ii  >  1  enlarged  anti  n   Howard,  i 


A  few  birds  prey  upon  the  caterpillar,  but  most  of  them  evi- 
dently find  it.  when  full  grown,  a  rather  tough  morsel,  the  -kin  being 
especially  tough  and  thick  and  the  insect  a  very  muscular  one,  so  that, 
in  fact,  it  is  difficull  to  crush  one  with  the  end  of  a  cane.  Among  the 
birds  which  have  been  recorded  a-  destroying  this  insect  are  cuckoo-, 
the  catbird,  and  the  Baltimore  oriole. 

REMEDIES. 

The  catalpa  sphinx  may  be  readily  destroyed  by  different  method-. 

Hand  picking. — Owing  to  it-  large  size,  the  caterpillar  is  easily 
-ecu.  and  it  is  possible  to  control  it  by  hand  picking  with  the  aid  of 
a  long  ladder  and  a  12-foot  pole  primer  or  similar  device. 

Arsenicals. — The  insect  can  be  destroyed  by  an  arsenical  spray 
of  either  Paris  green  or  arsenate  of  lead,  applied  as  for  other  shade- 
tree  pests,  Mich  as  the  tussock  moth  and  fall  webworm."  We  may 
take  advantage  of  our  knowledge  of  the  gregarious  habit  of  the  young 
of  this  caterpillar  bj  watching  rather  closely  for  it  in  the  spring,  and 
if  the  leaves  are  observed  to  be  eaten  in  any  particular  place,  a  poi- 
sonous spray  should  be  applied.  This  may  frequently  save  an  entire 
tree.  Where  only  a  few  trees  are  to  be  treated,  it  will  be  best  to  spray 
all  the  leaves.  Owing  to  the  fact  that  the  foliage  is  frequently  in- 
fected by  a  leaf-spot  disease.''  the  added  precaution  of  using  Bordeaux 
mixture  as  a  diluent  for  either  the  Paris  green  or  arsenate  of  lead  is 
advisable. 

Destruction  of  the  pupce. — Where  the  caterpillars  have  been  so 
abundant  as  to  have  affected  the  trees,  it  will  pay  as  a  precaution  for 
the  following  year  to  spade  up  the  ground  thoroughly  and  disinte- 
grate it  in  the  fall  so  as  to  destroy  the  pupa;,  which  will  be  found  con- 
centrated under  the  surface  of  the  ground  in  the  immediate  vicinity 
of  the  trunk. 

Protecting  the  parasites. — The  second  or  last  generation,  which 
appears  in  September  and  October,  is  largely  destroyed  by  parasites 
which  are  frequently  very  abundant  just  as  the  oldest  caterpillars  are 
beginning  to  reach  full  growth.  At  this  time  the  parasites,  which 
have  been  previously  mentioned,  issue  from  the  body  of  their  ho-t 
and  spin  large  masses  of  white  cocoons  on  the  backs  of  the  cater- 
pillars. These  masses  are  so  large  that  they  can  lie  -ecu  at  a  con- 
siderable distance  against  the  black  stripes  of  the  host  insect.  It  is 
not  advisable  to  destroy  the  caterpillars  at  this  stage,  as  the  parasites 
are  very  beneficial  and  in  ordinary  seasons  will  reduce  the  numbers 

«  For  directions,  sec  Farmers'  Bulletins  99  and  127.  which  may  be  obtained 
gratis  upon  application. 
i'  Phyllosticta  catalpcr. 
[Clr.  96] 


of  the  sphinx  caterpillars  so  that  thej  will  not  appear  the  following 
Beason  to  »l<>  much  harm.  Where  the  caterpillars  run  be  i:i-il\ 
gathered,  it  will  pay  to  pick  them  from  the  leaves  and  transfer  them 
to  barrels  <>r  targe  boxes  covered  with  wire  netting.  This  will  prevenl 
the  caterpillars  from  issuing  or  falling  ;i  pre}  i<>  birds  or  other  ani 
mala,  and  w  ill  insure  the  issuance  of  the  parasites  through  the  mesh 
t  It u r-  encouraging  their  good  work.  A  I'm  holes  should  be  bored  in 
the  bottom  of  the  barrels  or  boxes  used,  small  enough  to  prevenl  the 
caterpillars  from  crawling  through  them  into  the  ground.  This  will 
prevenl  the  accumulation  of  water  after  rains  which  mighl  drown 
the  iii-ccis  or  sel  up  putrefaction  in  the  him—. 

If  the  cooperation  of  neighbors  who  have  catalpa  tree-  growing  on 
their  premises  can  be  secured,  tlii-  caterpillar  can  be  largely  controlled 
I'm  several  j  ears  in  succession. 

Approved : 

.l\MI-    Wll  ».  >\. 

s    n  tary  of  .  Igrit  ultun  . 
Washington,  !>.('..  Nom  mbi  /■  6t  1907. 

[Clr.96] 


UNIVERSITY  OF  FLORIDA 

II  "" 


3  1262  09216  4762 


